Connector assembly



United States Patent Olce 3,140,139 CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Alfred P. Urban, La Grange, 11]., assignor to Grayhill Moldtronics, Inc., La Grange, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 149,712 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-192) This invention relates to a multi-circuit connector assembly and more particularly to such an assembly to which connections are made by taper pins.

Connector assemblies are used for interconnecting subassemblies in complex equipment such as computers. Such connectors may include a two-part molded casing fitted around a plurality of connector elements. The elements may include tubular portions to which wires are attached by means of a taper pin, the taper pin being inserted into the receptacle with an impact punch to insure a good connection. There are times during testing, assembly or repair when a taper pin must be removed from a receptacle. This necessitates gripping the taper pin firmly with a pair of pliers, twisting and pulling. Twisting the taper pin on removal creates a high torque condition at the point Where the tubular portions of the connector elements are joined, and may be great enough to break the connector element causing an open circuit or intermittent connection. The outward appearance of the assembly may remain unchanged, and since there may be a large number of connector assemblies in any given computer, locating the source of the trouble can be a lengthy and difficult process.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a low cost, simple connector assembly in which connections made by taper pins can be removed and replaced without damage to the assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a connector unit in which damage from excessive torque in re moving taper pin connections becomes readily apparent to a person assembling, testing or servicing the equipment on which the connector is used.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a connector having a molded casing with connector elements including taper pin receptacles therein, and wherein the receptacles are of square cross-section and are received in square openings in the casing.

A second feature is the provision of a connector assembly including Y-shaped connector elements of conducting material, with two of the three branches being adapted to receive taper pins and having a square outer cross-section, and the third branch being a resilient connector for receiving a connector pin or jack.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the connector of the invention with part broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the connector;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the connector;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connector element used in the connector assembly.

In accordance with the invention, a connector is provided including a two-part insulating casing and a plurality of Y-shaped connector elements therein. The double end of the connector elements are receptacles having a square outer surface fitted into square openings in one portion of the molded casing. The second portion of the molded casing fits over the first portion with the single end of the connector elements fitting into holes disposed in this portion. The two portions are secured together by means of rivets or bolts inserted through holes at either end of the portions. The entire assembly may be fixed Patented July 7, 1964 to a subassembly or chassis of a complex unit such as a computer. Leads extending from components on the chassis are secured to taper pins, which are inserted into the receptacles. Connections are made to the connector from a plug having pins which enter holes in the second portion of the molded casing and fit resiliently in the single ends of the connector elements.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows the connector assembly which includes a casing formed by first and second portions 10 and 20. The first portion 10 contains a plurality of square openings 12 for receiving connector elements 16. The connector elements are of generally Y-shape having two tubular receptacles 14 and 15 (FIG. 5) extending in one direction from the center portion 18, and a single resilient receptacle or jack 28 extending in the opposite direction. The jacks from resilient connectors are connected to the center portion 18 by arms 29. The center portion 18 of the receptacle 16 rests on the top surface of the first portion 10. (See also FIG. 4.) The second portion 20 of the casing is secured to first portion 10 by rivets 24 extending through rivet holes 22. Bolt holes 23 are also providedin the molded casing for the purpose of securing the connector to a chassis of the computer. Provided in second portion 20 are recesses 26 adapted to receive the jacks 28 of the connector elements 16 1 As shown in FIG. 2, the second portion 20 also contains access openings 30. As best seen in FIG. 4 these access openings 30 allow insertion of pins inot recesses 26, resiliently fitting into the jacks 28 of the connector elements 16. Pins 32 are part of a plug 34 which may provide connections to other elements of the computer through wires 36.

In FIG. 1 it may be seen that the receptacles 14 and 15 of the connector element 16 have tapered openings 42 therein (see also FIG. 5), which are adapted to receive taper plugs. The receptacles 14 and 15 are of sufficient length to protrude slightly from the surface of the first portion of the molded casing. Taper plugs 40 attached to leads 44 are inserted into each of openings 42 in the receptacles 14 and 15 of the connector elements 16, by means of an impact punch to insure a good'connection.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of connector element 16 in more detail. Jack 28, arm 29, and center portion 18 are a unitary piece which may be stamped to form. Receptacles 14 and 15 may be manufactured on a screw machine and brazed to the center portion 18. This brazed juncture is not reinforced and is therefore susceptible to easy breakage.

When it becomes necessary to remove one of the taper plugs 40 from a tapered opening 42, it is gripped with a pair of pliers and twisted. Twisting torque is transmitted, of course, to the receptacle 14 or 15 of the connector element 16. However, the square outer shape of the receptacles 14 and 15 of the connector elements 16 allows them, when torque is applied thereto, to bear against the walls of square openings 12 thus preventing any direct torque application to the juncture between the receptacles 14 and 15 and center portion 18. If in a particular circumstance excessive torque is applied, it will cause cracking of the walls about the square opening 12. The damage will therefore be readily apparent on the outer surface of the first portion 10. The resultant damage allows the defect to be discovered immediately and repair or replacement is possible.

Thus, the connector assembly of the invention, which includes the connector element previously described, has been found to be highly satisfactory for use in complex equipment. The cooperation of the connector element and the casing has resulted in substantial elimination of broken connectors. Where breakage has taken place, repair and testing are facilitated. The cost of the improved unit is 3 relatively low so that it can be used in many applications.

I claim:

1. A connector assembly including in combination a molded insulating casing having first and second parts, a generally Y-shaped connector element of conducting material having first, second and third tubular branches, a center portion connecting said first, second and third branches of said connector element, said first branch including resilient means for engaging a connector pin and an arm connecting said resilient means to said center portion, said second and third branches being adapted to receive taper pins therein and having square cross-sections and extending in a direction opposite to that of said first branch, said first part having a recess adapted to receive said first branch and also having an access opening to said recess to allow insertion of a connector pin into said first branch of said connector element from without the casing, said second part having a pair of square openings disposed therein, said second and third branches being inserted into and mated with said square openings in said second part so that torque applied to said second and third branches when removing taper pins therefrom will be transmitted to said molded casing, and means for detachably securing said second part of said molded casing to said first part thereof to enclose said connector element.

2. A connector assembly including in combination, a molded insulating casing having first and second parts, said first part having a plurality of recesses therein with openings extending therefrom, said second part having a plurality of pairs of square openings disposed therein, a plurality of generally Y-shaped connector elements of conducting material having first, second and third tubular branches, center portions connecting said second and third branches of said connector elements, said first branches including resilient means for engaging a connector pin and arms connecting said resilient means to said center portions, said first branches of said elements extending into said recesses of said first part, said second and third branches having square cross-sections and extending in a direction opposite to that of said first branches, each of said second and third branches further having an opening formed therein for receiving a taper pin, said center portions of said elements being positioned to bear against said second part of said casing to position said second and third branches in said square openings, said second and third branches being mated with said square openings in said first part so that torque applied 4 to said second and third branches when removing taper pins therefrom will be transmitted to said molded casing, and means for detachably securing said second part of said molded casing to said first part thereof to enclose said connector elements.

3. A generally Y-shaped connector element of conducting material for use in a connector assembly having a two part molded insulating casing, one part of which has a recess therein and the other part of which has a pair of square openings therein, said connector element including in combination, a substantially flat center portion, a first branch extending from said center portion and integral therewith, said first branch being formed to comprise resilient means for engaging a connector pin, second and third branches brazed to said center portion and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the direction of said first branch with said second and third branches being in substantially parallel relationship, each of said second and third branches having a tapered opening therein for receiving a taper pin, and having a square outer cross-section adapted to mate with the interior walls of a square opening in the casing so that the casing enables said second and third branches to resist torque applied thereto when removing the tapen pins therefrom to prevent damage to the brazed connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,686,534 Rosenzweig Oct. 9, 1928 1,705,315 States Mar. 12, 1929 1,816,063 Westcott July 28, 1931 2,245,068 Chirelstein June 10, 1941 2,823,364 Walter Feb. 11, 1958 2,874,313 Githens Feb. 17, 1959 2,937,357 Kennedy May 17, 1960 3,005,179 Holt Oct. 17, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,797 Germany Feb. 15, 1934 716,621 Germany June 24, 1942 629,457 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Kulka Electric Corp., Catalog Sht. 59-4, Miniature Taper-Pin Terminal Blocks Kulka Type 399, 1959, pages 1 and 2. (Copy in Group 350.) 

3. A GENERALLY Y-SHAPED CONNECTOR ELEMENT OF CONDUCTING MATERIAL FOR USE IN A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A TWO PART MOLDED INSULATING CASING, ONE PART OF WHICH HAS A RECESS THEREIN AND THE OTHER PART OF WHICH HAS A PAIR OF SQUARE OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID CONNECTOR ELEMENT INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CENTER PORTION, A FIRST BRANCH EXTENDING FROM SAID CENTER PORTION AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID FIRST BRANCH BEING FORMED TO COMPRISE RESILIENT MEANS FOR ENGAGING A CONNECTOR PIN, SECOND AND THIRD BRANCHES BRAZED TO SAID CENTER PORTION AND EXTENDING THEREFROM IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST BRANCH WITH SAID SECOND AND THIRD BRANCHES BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD BRANCHES HAVING A TAPERED OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING A TAPER PIN, AND HAVING A SQUARE OUTER CROSS-SECTION ADAPTED TO MATE WITH THE INTERIOR WALLS OF A SQUARE OPENING IN THE CASING SO THAT THE CASING ENABLES SAID SECOND AND THIRD BRANCHES TO RESIST TORQUE APPLIED THERETO WHEN REMOVING THE TAPEN PINS THEREFROM TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE BRAZED CONNECTION. 